Mounting and cable line rigging for pullshovel dipper attachment



M y 5, 4 G. s. ALLIN, SR 3,131,822

MOUNTING AND CABLE LINE RIGGING FOR PULLSHOVEL DIPPER ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. eor9e 8.111191, sr.

flndrus 86:14 sfiiin'nggs y 5, 1964 a. s. ALLIN, SR 3, 3

MOUNTING AND CABLE LINE RIGGING FOR PULLSHOVEL DIPPER ATTACi-MENT Filed Feb. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flndrus ,5 we 9111mm United States Patent O 3,131,822 MOUNTHNG AND CABLE LINE RIGGING FOR PULLSHOVEL DlPPER ATTACHMENT George S. Allin, Sr., Green Bay, Wis, assignor to Northwest Engineering Corporation, Green Bay, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Feb. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 87,299

3 Claims. (Cl. 214-138) This invention relates to cable operated pullshovels and particularly relates to an improved mounting and cable line arrangement for the dipper attachment.

- Bullshovels currently employ a padlock sheave or equivalent structure such as a crossbar equalizer connected closely to the upper corners of the dipper for maintaining an equalized cable pull force on opposite sides of the dipper and to lead the cable properly to the dipper. In operation of the shovel, as the dirt or other material is broken or sheared loose by the dipper teeth, its tends to pile up ahead of the dipper to a height depending upon the physical characteristics of the material being loaded and upon the digging force available at the teeth. As a result, the dipper sheave or equalizer, as the case may be, fouls on the piled material, restricting the free flow of material into the dipper and eventually plugging .the throat of the dipper. As further materials are broken loose, they tend to slide oif the sides of the dipper and to remain in situ. It is not uncommon to find that after raising the dipper out of the cut, the dirt is tightly packed up to the padlock sheave while the after end of the dipper is only partially filled.

The close physical association of the padlock sheave or equalizer bar and the dipper gives rise to a further drawback in that in changing to a dipper of a difierent width, the padlock sheave must also be replaced for proper operation of the shovel. A corresponding change must also be made in the brace structure supporting the dipper on its pivot arm or boom as they are ordinarily fixed in size. These aforesaid changes entail considerable time and labor, resulting in a substantial shovel shutdown time and increased fixed charge costs whenever dipper replacement is needed.

The present invention eliminates the need for padlock sheaves or the like located immediately ahead of the dipper, and replaces the same by structure comprising in combination a traveling sheave mounted for lengthwise travel of the boom along the upper surface thereof and a pair of fairlead sheaves mounted on the sides of the boom upwardly of the path of travel of the traveling sheave for laterally pivoting movement. The dipper operating drag cable is formed in two sections with one section reeved reversely through the traveling sheave and connected to a power winch and to a fixed support for controlling the travel of the sheave. The other section of the drag line transmits the cable pull to the dipper from the traveling sheave and is reeved through a U- shaped equalizer tube formed with the traveling sheave,

though the fairlead sheaves and from there to suitable shackles on opposed sides'of the dipper. In this manner the dipper is left completely free of restrictions to the inflow of the material being loaded, permitting full, well crowned dipper loads. The elimination of the sheave on the dipper proper serves incidentally to reduce the dead weight at the outer end of the dipper to thereby correspondingly reduce the moment force thereat for a given dipper load.

The pivoting of the fairlead sheaves provides freedom of angular adjustment of each sheave to a proper lead angle of the drag cable to the dipper in any of the dipper positions through its functional sweep and regardless of V the dipper width. The fairlead sheaves thus automatically adjust for varying dipper widths.

3,131,822 Patented May 5, 1964 "ice In a further improvement of the invention, the main dipper side supporting braces comprise separate and distinct tubular members and have an interconnecting crossbrace formed as a telescopically adjustable member slidably connectable to the main braces and clampable upon itself in any degree of extension or contraction. The entire dipper support structure may thus be adjusted for use clippers of Varying widths, decreasing changeover time and reducing shovel shutdown time. Further, the crossbrace itself maybe lowered or raised relatively of the main braces to vary the degree of reinforcement imparted to the dipper for permitting maximum shovel ef'uciency under all types of digging conditions.

The drawings furnished herewith illustrate the best method presently contemplated-for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of 'a pull-type shovel embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the shovel boom lowered into a cut with the full lines indicating the fully' extended position of the dipper and with the phantom lines indicating successive positions of the dipper cable is reeved through the traveling sheave;

FIG. 5 is a view takenon lines 5-5 of FIG. 1 illustating the fairlead sheaves; I

FIG. 6 is a view along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 1 showing the dipper and dipper supporting braces; I

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the dipper support structure with the phantom lines indicating an adjusted position thereof for a wider-bucket; and

FIG. 8 is a view along the lines 8-8 of FIG. 1.

The cable-operated pullshovel 1 illustrated comprises generally a rotatably supported crawler-type cab 2 and an elevationally positionable shovel boom 3 pivotally mounting a dipper 4. The boom is controlled for operation by a boom cable 5 contained on a power-operated winch 6 within cab 2 and reeved between a double sheave 7 on the supplemental pivotal boom 8 and a corresponding single sheave 9 pivotally mounted on the end of the dipper arm 10. The free end of cable5 is fastened to a clevis 11 carried by sheave 9 such that as cable 5 is payed out, the boom is lowered and as cable 5 is wound in, the boom is raised.

The dipper is controlled for pivoting on armlil by a drag cable formed in two sections 12 and 13. Section 12 is secured to dipper 4 and section 13 is wound on winch 14 mounted within cab 2 on a coincident axis with winch 6 as shown, in a manner to be explained. With the boom anddipper in the general position of FIG. 1, boom cable 5 may be payed out simultaneously with pay-out of the drag cable 1213 to place the shovel in digging position as shown in the full lines of FIG. 2, the dipper moving to an extended position on the arm or counterclockwise in FIG. 1 due to the leverage of the boom on the dipper arm. To effect a digging and loading sweep of the dipper following dipper extension, boom cable 5 is properly controlled by the operator while drag cable 12-13 is wound in, causing the dipper to retract or pivot clockwise as into the lower phantom position of FIG. 2. When the dipper is fully retracted, the boom may be raised from the cut by winding in cable 5 while holding cable 12-13 taut, and the dipper contents unloaded by simultaneous winding in on cable 5 while controlling the release of drag cable 12-13 to permit dipper extension.

In order .to maintain the force or leading portion of the dipper completely open to the inflow of loose material during the digging'and loading sweep of the dipper for optimum loading thereof, the present invention proposes to mount the drag line reeving structure on the shovel boom proper where it can in no way interfere with either the dipper or the material being dug and loaded.

In general, the structure comprises'a movable or traveling sheave connected to winch 14 and to the dipper through the separate and distinct sections 12 and 13 of the drag line, and a pair of fixed fairlead sheaves 16 serving to guide the drag line to the dipper while providing angular adjustment of the line in accordance with the dipper position. 7 V

With particular reference tothe'structure of the invention and to FIGS. 4-8, the sheave 15 as shown is mounted on the upper side of shovel. boom 3 for lengthwise travel over the major portion thereof by a raised track 17 secured on the \boom and fitting within a cooperating channel member 18 formed on the lower.portion of the sheave.

' For a purpose which will appear, sheave 15 is formed with a U-shaped equalizer tube 19 opening relatively toward the outer end of shovel .boom 3.

Drag line section 13 extends from winch 14 and is reeved reversely through sheave 15' from where it is extended back along the boom and connected to 'afixed support 20 located at the base of boom 3. A pair of free-floating drums 21 pivotally mounted at the foot of boom 3 serve to lead cable section 13 properly to sheave 15.

The fairlead sheaves 16 are mounted on opposite sides of the boom upper end immediately'outwardly' of the end of track 17 by the bracket 22. The sheaves 16 are secured for laterally pivoting movement of boom 3 by thetpivot pins 23 extending longitudinally through the top of a corresponding sheave support plate 24 and the spaced pairs of lug-like projections 25 constituting the end walls of bracket 22.

The other cable section 12 is extended through tube 19 and the ends reeved through a corresponding'fairlead sheave 16 and fastenedto the'upper, opposite leading corners of dipper 4 by the shackles 26 to complete the rigging of the drag line.

g The pivoting of fairlead sheaves 16 to boom 3 allows spreading and closing of the ends of the cable as dipper 4 is pivoted to and from boom 3 respectively to automatically provide the proper lead angle for the cable through the full functional sweep of the dipper. This is also true regardless of the dipper width which is in use at any particular moment so that no change has to be made in the reeving structure to accommodate a different width of dipper.

As shown in FIG. 8, tube 19 is mounted generally parallel to the plane of the boom surface while the sheave 14 itself is tilted somewhat to boom 3 to dispose diametrically opposite side portions of the sheave on opposite sides of the tube. By this construction, the forces on cable sections 12 and 13 are balanced against one another to prevent sheave 15 from tilting normally of the boom and binding in track 17.

In operation, as the drag cable 12-13 is either wound in or payed out, the sheave 15 is moved along theboom with equalizer tube 19 to thereby apply an equalized pull or release force on either side of the dipper, thuspreventing twisting'of the dipper and dipper arm relatively of boom'3 and preventing torque loading of the latter. The placement of traveling. sheave 15 and the fairlead sheaves 16 on the shovel boom provides an assembly in which the throat of the dipper is completely free of obstructions to incoming material. As a result, the shovel of the invention is capable of providing a more complete loading of the dipper, reducing waste and increasing the dipper payload and the operating efliciency of the shovel.

In another aspect of the invention, the dipper, which is detachably mounted directly to the arm proper on the outer end thereof, is provided with additional detachable support structure which is adjustable to permit the ready replacement of the dipper with one of different width and which has a further adjustment to permit the stiffening efiect imparted to the dipper. to be varied in accordance with the particular digging conditions encountered. As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and'7, the structure includes a pair of elongated tubular steel struts 27 bolted or otherwise removably secured to opposed sides of the dipper near the upper, leading corners thereof and to corresponding sides of the dipper arm adjacent the upper end of the latter. Struts 27 are connected laterally by a cross brace comprised of inner and outer telescopically movable members 28 and 29 respectively, which are clampable together in a plurality of degrees of relative extension or refraction by means such as a pin 30insertable through one of a series of aligned pairsofdiametric openings in each of the members.

The cross brace is further infinitely slidably adjustably secured to side struts 27 bystructure including aset of spaced outwardly extending studs 31 provided on. the outer ends of each of the members 28 and 29. 'The studs 31 are adaptedto straddleside struts 27 and monnt'a cooperating end clamping bar 32, secured thereto against corresponding side struts 27 by suitable nuts. The cross bar is thus adjustable upwardly or downwardly-relatively of side struts 27 to vary the degree of reinforcement which the structure imparts to dipper 4. r Y In replacing dippers with the aforesaid structure, the struts and cross brace may be left intact on the'dipper arm as the original dipper may be initially removed by unshackling drag cable section 12 and removing the bolts securing the struts 27 to the dipper followed by detachment of the dipper from the arm proper. To receive the new dipper, the cross brace is initially set for telescopic adjustment and sliding movement on the struts. The new dipper is then attached to the arm and to the struts which are spread outwardly or closed inwardly as needed to ef-.

feet the connection, the tubular form of the struts provide sutlicient lateral flexibility or play to accommodate this movement. If desired, the struts may be loosened on the dipper arm for accommodating further lateral adjustments between the struts in the case of a wide disparity between dipper widths. The cross brace is then moved to its desired position relatively of the dipper and locked in place by securing the clamp bars 32 to studs 31 and inserting'pin 30 in locking position. The assembly of the dipper is completed by connecting drag cable section 12 to the dipper and tightening the struts in place. No change is required in the drag line reeving structure as the pivotal fairlead sheaves automatically establish the proper lead angle of the drag line into the new dipper. In contrast to the fixed support braces heretofore employed and the use of an equalizer bar or an equivalent the brace to vary in position in accordance with digging conditions. For example, in digging in frost-hardened material, the brace may be set. closely adjacent the dipper ends of the side braces for maximum reinforcement of the dipper. On the other hand, when digging in relatively soft material, the brace is set remote from the dipper so as to not interferewith the inflow of material during dipper loading.

Various modes of carrying out the. invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim: V e

1. In combination with a cable-operated pullshovel having an elevationally positionable boom and a. dipper mounted on a dipper arm pivotally connected to the outer end of said boom, track means mounted lengthwise or" said boom on the upper side thereof a two-piece Winch operated drag line, first reeving means slidably mounted on said track and formed of a sheave and a generally U- shaped equalizer tube connected together with the sheave canted to the boom and with the tube in coplanar relation thereto with the opposed legs of the tube on opposite sides of said sheave to prevent said first reeving means binding on said track means, one piece of said drag line being reeved between said sheave of said first reeving means and said winch and a econd piece between said equalizer tube or said first reeving means and the opposite leading corners of said dipper, second reeving means mounted to the boom outwardly of the path of travel of said first reeving means for leading said drag cable to said dipper, and means connected with said second reeving means for permitting automatic angular adjustment of the same relatively of said boom to establi h a proper lead angle of said drag cable to said dipper through the full pivot arc of said dipper arm and for any dipper Width.

2. In combination with a cable-o erated pullshovel having an elevationally positionable boom and a dipper mounted on a dipper arm pivotaliy connected to the outer end of said boom, track means mounted lengthwise of said boom on the upper side thereof, a two-piece winch operated drag line, first reeving means slidably mounted on said boom track and formed of a sheave and a generally U-shaped equalizer tube connected together with the sheave canted to the boom and with the tube in coplanar relation thereto with the opposed legs of the tube on opposite sides of said sheave to prevent said first reeving means binding on said track means, one piece of said drag line being reeved between said sheave of said first reeving means and said winch and a second piece between said equalizer tube of said first reeving means and the opposite leading corners of said dipper, and second reeving means mounted on said boom outwardly of the path of travel of said first reeving means for leading said drag line to said dipper.

3. in a pullshovel having a pivotally mounted dipper arm at the end of a boom controlled in operation by a boom cable reeved upon the upper end of the dipper arm and a drag line secured to the dipper on either side thereof and to a movable reeve on the boom, means carried by the boom and receiving the drag line to automatically adjust the lead angle thereof to the dipper sides over the full pivot arc of the dipper and for any width of dipper, and laterally adjustable dipper support means detachably connecting the dipper to the dipper arm to provide for employment of dippers of difierent widths, am d last named means comprising a pair of struts secured to opposite sides of the dipper arm and diverging angularly to a pivotal connection with the corresponding opposite sides of the dipper, means pivotally mounting the back of the diper on the end of the dipper arm, and tie means adjustable in length and extending across the space between said struts and rigidly securing the same together midway between the ends of the struts, said tie means constituting a brace disposed substantially away from the front of the dipper to avoid interference with loading operations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,4i5,56l Hill May 9, 1922 1,840,550 Wilson Jan. 12, 1932 2,388,461 Baker Nov. 6, 1945 2,416,409 Schield Feb. 25, 1947 2,660,323 Carlesimo Nov. 24, 1953 2,878,950 Waite Mar. 24, 1959 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A CABLE-OPERATED PULLSHOVEL HAVING AN ELEVATIONALLY POSITIONABLE BOOM AND A DIPPER MOUNTED ON A DIPPER ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE OUTER END OF SAID BOOM, TRACK MEANS MOUNTED LENGHTWISE OF SAID BOOM ON THE UPPER SIDE THEREOF A TWO-PIECE WINCH OPERATED DRAG LINE, FIRST REEVING MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID TRACK AND FORMED OF A SHEAVE AND A GENERALLY USHAPED EQUALIZER TUBE CONNECTED TOGETHER WITH THE SHEAVE CANTED TO THE BOOM AND WITH THE TUBE IN COPLANAR RELATION THERETO WITH THE OPPOSED LEGS OF THE TUBE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SHEAVE TO PREVENT SAID FIRST REEVING MEANS BINDING ON SAID TRACK MEANS, ONE PIECE OF SAID DRAG LINE BEING REEVED BETWEEN SAID SHEAVE OF SAID FIRST REEVING MEANS AND SAID WINCH AND A SECOND PIECE BETWEEN SAID EQUALIZER TUBE OF SAID FIRST REEVING MEANS AND THE OPPOSITE LEADING CORNERS OF SAID DIPPER, SECOND REEVING MEANS MOUNTED TO THE BOOM OUTWARDLY OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID FIRST REEVING MEANS FOR LEADING SAID DRAG CABLE TO SAID DIPPER, AND MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID SECOND REEVING MEANS FOR PERMITTING AUTOMATIC ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF THE SAME RELATIVELY OF SAID BOOM TO ESTABLISH A PROPER LEAD ANGLE OF SAID DRAG CABLE TO SAID DIPPER THROUGH THE FULL PIVOT ARC OF SAID DIPPER ARM AND FOR ANY DIPPER WIDTH. 